WhenToBird

Canada Goose · Branta canadensis

When Do Geese Arrive in Maine?

Adult Canada Goose
Photo: Tser, CC BY 4.0 via iNaturalist

Canada Geese are in Maine all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of March, peak in late March (29% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (early July) they are still on about 6.2% of checklists. They are the only regular gooses in Maine.

When to look

Numbers buildMar 8-14the second week of March
PeakMar 22-31late March
Fall back byMay 15-21mid May
FewestJul 1-7early July

Best: late March. Here all year; numbers build from the second week of March and fall back by mid May. Peak: on about 29% of Maine checklists.

  1. Januncommon
  2. Febcommon
  3. Marpeak season
  4. Aprpeak season
  5. Maypeak season
  6. Juncommon
  7. Juluncommon
  8. Auguncommon
  9. Sepcommon
  10. Octcommon
  11. Novcommon
  12. Deccommon

Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.

Geese in Maine, species by species

SpeciesFirst arrivalsCommon byPeakMost gone byPeak %
Canada GooseMar 8-14Mar 8-14Mar 22-31May 15-2129%
0%10%20%30%40%Canada GooseJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
  • Canada Goose
Share of complete checklists reporting each species, by week (4 per month). Gaps: fewer than 10 checklists that week.

Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Maine that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.

Where in Maine

Best counties for Canada Goose

Share of checklists at the peak
  1. Aroostook CountyBest mid October · 289 checklists that week, 16,817 in all60%
  2. Sagadahoc CountyBest the second week of February · 717 checklists that week, 21,736 in all43%
  3. Knox CountyBest late March · 648 checklists that week, 34,453 in all40%
  4. York CountyBest late March · 2321 checklists that week, 101,844 in all39%
  5. Penobscot CountyBest early April · 1452 checklists that week, 56,895 in all39%
  6. Oxford CountyBest early April · 265 checklists that week, 15,115 in all32%

Common questions

When do geese arrive in Maine?
Canada Geese are in Maine all year, but most are here in spring: numbers build from the second week of March, peak in late March (29% of checklists), and fall back by mid May. In the quietest week (early July) they are still on about 6.2% of checklists. They are the only regular gooses in Maine.
When do geese leave Maine?
Canada Geese never fully leave Maine: numbers fall back below half their usual rate by mid May, but some are still reported in every week, about 6.2% of checklists at the low.
When is the best time to see geese in Maine?
The Canada Goose is reported most often in late March, on about 29% of Maine checklists.